Czar ~ England

Czar (1970)

---10/28/07

Czar’s sole album is one that is usually targeted for the dreaded overrated term I so despise. And I can see where some folks may be turned off by this album, especially when compared to the competition of early 70s England. But if one were to really analyze the situation, most of this album was recorded in 1969 (it was released at the beginning of 1970) and should be considered a pioneering work. 

The most obvious comparison is King Crimson's debut, and that’s no surprise as we learn that Czar in fact did play with the Crimson King back in those days. Czar were one of the early bands to drench their album in mellotron, and when combined with organ, they were able to present quite a powerful statement. There is some definite holdover from their psych days as a band called Tuesday’s Children, and on some of the poppier tracks, The Moody Blues come to mind.

Turns out the album should have come out on Vertigo, but for reasons still not understood, Philips put them on their Fontana imprint. We also learn that the last track 'A Day in September' was unfinished and wasn’t meant to be included. Rather it was to be 'Ritual Fire Dance', which is a long jam session with a classical mid-section that was intended (included as a bonus track on the CD). While on the topic of these bonus tracks, we can hear that Czar was absolutely going in the wrong direction as a hard blues rock act, which is not surprising given that keyboardist Bob Hodges had packed his gear and left. 

---11/14/26

And that was my last listen, which was before UMR existed. I'm adding it here now. Rather than add new notes, I went ahead and rewrote parts of the review above. Otherwise my perception hasn't changed much. 

The CD includes their sole 45. 'Oh Lord I'm Getting Heavy' is a slow, gospel styled blues rock number, completely at odds with the album proper. And not to my tastes at all. The flip 'Why Don't We Be a Rock and Roll Band' is a boogie rock track with some decent leads at the end to keep it from a total woofer. A very disappointing 45 overall considering how much better the earlier recorded LP is.

Ownership: 2007 Sunbeam (CD). Booklet includes liner notes from former band members and photos. Acquired in 2007.

First copy: bootleg (LP). Acquired in 1993.

1993; 10/28/07 (review); 11/13/26 (new entry)